Dark trees in golden grass

I feel this photo, taken today at the upper end of the Glen Massan gorge, is a kind of visual metaphor for our times, though I haven't quite worked it out ...There was a forest fire here last year, and all these wee trees were completely scorched, the grass around them black. The grass grew again before the summer was out, with the vigour often found after a fire, and it is this that is golden now - dead, but lovely. Now we have to wait to see if the trees recover. The sharp-eyed will notice the rain-drops hanging on the branches in the foreground - by this time it was raining heavily.

And yes, we were out walking. We may be practising social distancing, but actually much of the time that's what we're doing. We like having the countryside to ourselves. Funny thing was that this bit of country - or at least, further down the road - was more populated than we've ever seen it except perhaps on a glorious summer day. A couple with a dog waved to us as we passed on our way to park. We saw a solitary man on the path on the far side of the river - I've never seen anyone there before. We met a couple coming down the road. And the occupants of the few cars that passed us waved, as if we were old friends.

I cannot pretend to be anything but daunted at the thought of the next few months. I've just typed out my entire possible shopping list for quick access if needed. That horrified me. (It's so long...). The Scottish Bishops have decreed that public worship will stop from now.  But at the moment I'm listening to Glasgow University Chapel Choir's live-streamed Choral Contemplations concert, singing along with Byrd. I used to sing in the choir, long ago when all the world was young. We've cancelled our choir for the duration (gosh - didn't they say that during the war?) but Mr PB and I shall do some singing on our own. You can't think of anything else if you're really singing.

And the weather promises to improve. My garden could do with some attention, and we're encouraged to go for walks instead of socialising. That'll be fine.